Personal air conditioning apparatus

ABSTRACT

A personal air conditioning apparatus includes a centrifugal fan received within a scroll casing. A container mounted to the inlet of the scroll housing is provided for receiving and holding a coolant member. The scroll casing is supported upon a base enclosing two liquid reservoirs and a battery compartment. A liquid atomizing device fed from one of the reservoirs dispenses liquid droplets into air flow from a discharge passage. A channel extends between the container and the other of the reservoirs for draining away condensation formed on the coolant member. The scroll casing defines the discharge passage, which has a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an end of the scroll casing. Axially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the cross section of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in the axial direction. The inner end of the container lies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding the lower side of the discharge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet toward the outlet. The coolant member may be a chilled beverage can and, when the fan is not operating, cooled air drops into the fan where it is retained.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to air conditioning apparatus, and moreparticularly concerns methods and apparatus for generating, purifying,cooling or heating and directing a flow of air for the comfort of theuser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In hot climates and during summer in more temperate climates, personalcooling is a concern for many people undertaking activities where theyare exposed to high ambient temperatures. For personal coolingapplications one class of prior art devices incorporate a fan that blowsair either through ice supported so as to be air-permeable, or throughchannels in a plastic container of a type for holding a freezableliquid. The thermal efficiency of many of these prior art devices isreduced by features which allow air cooled by contact with the coldsurface to be lost to the user, for instance after placement of thecooling element and before the fan is operated. These devices use axialfans and typically have no structure to retain this cool air from thecooling element, and so allow this cooled air to escape. It will beunderstood that there is a need for a personal cooling device whichaddresses this drawback and is relatively low-cost, simple and efficientin operation. It is important that the device should have a compact formfor portability and should provide for a cooling air flow in variedspecific directions.

A further drawback of these personal cooling devices is that ice, or areplacement container of freezable liquid, may not be readily availableto recharge the device. On the other hand chilled beverages are widelyavailable in aluminum cans, and these beverage cans may be used forpersonal cooling in the conventional manner by consuming their contents,or the can may be held in contact with the skin for cooling, takingadvantage of the good thermal conductivity of the walls of the can.However, as these methods may raise dietary or hygiene concerns there isa need to provide a method and apparatus for providing effectivepersonal cooling using chilled beverage cans which addresses thesedrawbacks. It is an object of the present invention to meet the aboveneeds or more generally to provide an improved personal coolingapparatus and method of personal cooling.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apersonal cooling apparatus comprising:

a container adapted to hold a coolant member and admit incoming air forcooling, the container having a central axis with axially opposing outerand inner ends, the outer end being open to allow passage of the coolantmember and the inner end open for the passage of air;

a centrifugal fan having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bladesfor generating an air flow;

a scroll casing, the fan being positioned within the scroll casing, thescroll casing defining a discharge passage with a cross-sectional areathat increases toward an outlet at an end thereof, wherein axiallyopposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the crosssection of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shapeelongated substantially in the axial direction;

an inlet in the scroll casing in communication with the inner end of thecontainer; and wherein, with the apparatus in an upright position, theinner end of the container lies above the scroll casing and a surfacebounding the lower side of the discharge passage is inclined upwardlyfrom the inlet toward the outlet.

Preferably the discharge passage has a centriodal axis defined along alocus of centroid positions for a plurality of transverse dischargepassage sections along a length of the discharge passage and thecentroidal axis is inclined upwardly toward the outlet.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a motor drivingly connectedto the fan and received in the scroll casing, wherein a common axis ofrotation of the motor and fan is substantially coaxial with the centralaxis.

Preferably vanes are provided in the inlet for supporting an end of thecoolant member. The vanes are preferably substantially radially alignedand project into an axial recess in the fan.

Preferably the apparatus further comprises a base defining first andsecond liquid reservoirs, a liquid atomizing device disposed in thedischarge passage for dispensing liquid droplets into air flow from thedischarge passage, a liquid conduit extending from the liquid atomizingdevice to the first reservoir and a channel extending between thecontainer and the second reservoir for directing condensation formed onthe coolant member to the second reservoir.

In another aspect the invention provides a method of personal coolingemploying a personal cooling apparatus including a substantially tubularcontainer having inner and outer ends, the container being made ofthermally insulating material or being thermally insulated, a scrollcasing with an axial inlet in communication with the inner end of thecontainer; a centrifugal fan positioned within the scroll casing, thescroll casing defining a discharge passage with a cross-sectional areathat increases toward an outlet at an end thereof, wherein axiallyopposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and the crosssection of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has a shapeelongated substantially in the axial direction, the method comprising:

placing a metallic can within the container, wherein the can is sealedand holds a beverage chilled below ambient temperature or frozen;

allowing air cooled by contact with the can to fall into the scrollcasing; actuating the fan to extract cold air from within the containerand impel an outflow of cold air from the scroll casing, and

directing the air outflow from a outlet at an end of the scroll casingfor personal cooling.

Preferably the air flow from the can is drawn through a substantiallyannular channel between the metallic can and the tubular container.

Preferably the can protrudes from the upper end and the air flow intothe container is funneled through the upper end which tapers inwardlyfrom its rim.

This invention provides a device for personal cooling which is effectiveand efficient in operational use, and which by accumulating cooled airwhich is lost in typical prior art designs, provides for improvedcooling performance. The device may be economically constructed and hasan overall simple design which minimizes manufacturing costs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way ofexample with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of an exemplary embodiment of the personalcooling apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear pictorial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded pictorial view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section in an upright plane of the apparatus of FIG. 1,extending transversely through the discharge passage showing both thecan and filter on opposing sides of the centreline;

FIG. 5 is plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and rear elevations respectively of theapparatus of FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 8 and 9 are left and right side elevations respectively of theapparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, a cordless personal cooling apparatus 1includes a tubular container 2 with an open top end 3 and an outwardlytapered lip 4. The container 2 has a central axis 5 and an open bottomend 6 axially opposing the top end 3. The bottom end 6 is removablyreceived in an annular flange 7 formed on the upper, outer end of ascroll casing 10. Axially elongated ribs 8 project inwardly from thewalls of the container 2 and are angularly spaced apart. The ribs 8serve to define air flow channels and to centrally locate a coolantmember having cylindrical walls, and which may take the form of achilled and sealed beverage can 9 a (shown in section in FIG. 4) or avessel 9 b (shown protruding from the container 2 in FIG. 1) holding aliquid with a low freezing temperature, such as a water and glycol mix.The vessel 9 b includes circumferentially spaced protrusions 46 whichare supported upon the rim of the container 2 and define recesses 47therebetween. The container 2 is moulded from polymer such aspolycarbonate having thermal insulating properties.

A centrifugal fan 11 having a plurality of blades 12 is enclosed in thescroll casing 10 and driven by an electric motor 13. The motor 13 andfan 11 are aligned axially below the container 2.

The scroll casing 10 includes upper and lower parts 15, 16 which arejoined in a transverse plane to enclose the fan 11. The annular flange 7is formed on upper part 15 around an inlet aperture 17. Vanes 19integral with the upper part 15 are aligned radially within the aperture17, the radially outer ends joining the flange 7 and the inner endsprojecting axially into a circular recess 18 in the top of the fan 11.The edges of the vanes 18 support the end of the can 9 a. A concavity 20in the upper part 15 defines an upper surface 21 of a spiral dischargepassage 22 extending between the fan 11 and the outlet 23.

The lower part 16 of the scroll casing 10 cooperates with the upper part15 to enclose the fan 11 and define the discharge passage 22. The lowerpart 16 defines a lower surface 28 and a radially outer face 29 of thedischarge passage 22. The part 28 a of the lower surface 28 adjacent theoutlet 23 is outwardly spaced apart from the part 28 b of the lowersurface 28 adjacent the fan 11 and the lower surface 28 joining theparts 28 a, 28 b is smoothly and progressively tapered. Thecross-sectional area of the discharge passage 22 increases toward theoutlet 23, with the axially opposing inner and outer surfaces 21, 28diverging. The discharge passage 22 has a centriodal axis defined alonga locus of centroid positions 36 for a plurality of transverse sectionsalong a length of the discharge passage 22. The centroidal axis isspiroidal and inclined upwardly toward outlet 23.

A rib-like member 30 in the discharge passage 22 has a convex face 31that protrudes from the lower surface 28 and defines a downwardlyopening recess 32 which holds an ionizing device or associated wiring(not shown), as well as wiring for connection to an LED 33. The member30 is elongated to extend along the discharge passage 22 longitudinallyand is arcuate, with opposing side walls having a curve complementary tothe radially outer face 29. Mounted to the lower part 16 are controlbuttons 26 and an indicator lamp 27.

A louvre assembly 24 is mounted at the outlet 23 for varying thedirection of outlet air flow in the vertical direction. Generallyparallel louvres 25 are vertically spaced across the outlet 23 andmounted by pivots (not shown) at their opposing longitudinal ends. Thelouvres 25 are mutually connected by a bar 35 to rotate together. Anaperture 50 is provided in a louvre-supporting frame 37 at the base ofthe louvre assembly 24 and receives an ultrasonic atomizing device 38for introducing water into the air flow from the apparatus 1. With theatomizing device 38 operating a fine, visible mist is produced whichprovides evaporative cooling of the air. By directing this air flowagainst the skin a fine spray of water is deposited, which providesfurther cooling as it evaporates.

The scroll casing 10 is supported upon a base 40 to which it isreleasably fastened. Enclosed within the base 40 is a compartment 41 forholding batteries 42 electrically connected to a coupling 43 at the topof the base 40 by which current is supplied to the components mounted inthe scroll casing 10. First and second water reservoirs 56, 57 are alsoprovided in the base 40. A wick 45 has one end which protrudes from thebase 40 to engage the atomizing device 38 and an opposing end receivedin the first reservoir 56. A liquid conduit 55 extends from the scrollcasing 10 into the second reservoir 57 for carrying condensation formedon the outside of the beverage can 9 a or a vessel 9 b.

The apparatus 1 is provided with a filter 65, best seen in FIGS. 3 and4, having a corrugated, frustoconical paper filter element 66 supportedbetween an annular mount 67 and a cap 68 at axially opposing ends. Innerand outer filter discs 69, 70 cover the axial inlet end of the filterelement 2 and may be washable. When it is not desired to employ abeverage can 9 a or a vessel 9 b, the filter 65 is instead mounted. Thefilter element 66 is received within the container 2, with the cap 68lowermost and the annular mount 67 supported upon the rim 4.

FIGS. 5 and 7-9 also show two clips 56 elongated generally parallel toone another with their inner ends releasably fixed to the scroll housing10. The outer ends of the clips 56 may be engaged to grasp a fixture,for securing the apparatus in place.

In use, with the apparatus 1 upright as illustrated the can 9 a (oralternatively, the vessel 9 b) is placed into the container 2. Beforethe fan 11 is operated air cooled by contact with the can 9 a falls intothe scroll casing 10 where it is retained and is largely prevented frombeing lost through the outlet 23 by the fan blades and the upwardinclination of the discharge passage 22. When the fan 11 is operated,air is drawn axially downwardly through the annular space around the can9 a before it is directed through the outlet 23.

It will be understood that, although the apparatus is primarily intendedto be used for personal cooling, it may also be used to provide somepersonal heating using hot water in the container 2. It also lendsitself to be used for cooling drinks, or baby's feeding bottles. Thecontainer 2 may also be removed from the top of the apparatus, andreplaced with an air filter (not shown).

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of exampleonly and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions maybe made thereto without departing from the scope thereof.

1. A personal air conditioning apparatus comprising: a container forholding a coolant member and admitting incoming air for cooling, thecontainer having a central axis with axially opposing outer and innerends, the outer end being open for passage of the coolant member and theinner end being open for the passage of air; a centrifugal fan having aplurality of circumferentially spaced blades for generating an air flow;a scroll casing, the fan being positioned within the scroll casing, thescroll casing defining a discharge passage with a cross-sectional areathat increases toward an outlet at an end of the scroll casing, whereinaxially opposing faces of the discharge passage are divergent, and thecross-sectional area of the discharge passage adjacent the outlet has ashape elongated substantially in an axial direction; and an inlet in thescroll casing in communication with the inner end of the container,wherein, with the apparatus in an upright position, the inner end of thecontainer lies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding a lowerside of the discharge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet towardthe outlet.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the discharge passagehas a centriodal axis defined along a locus of centroid positions for aplurality of transverse discharge passage sections along a length of thedischarge passage and the centroidal axis is inclined upwardly towardthe outlet.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motordrivingly connected to the fan and received in the scroll casing,wherein a common axis of rotation of the motor and the fan issubstantially coaxial with the central axis.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1including vanes located in the inlet for supporting an end of thecoolant member.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the vanes aresubstantially radially aligned and project into an axial recess in thefan.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a base definingfirst and second liquid reservoirs; a liquid atomizing device disposedin the discharge passage for dispensing liquid droplets into air flowfrom the discharge passage; a liquid conduit extending from the liquidatomizing device to the first reservoir; and a channel extending betweenthe container and the second reservoir for directing condensation fornedon the coolant member to the second reservoir.
 7. The apparatus of claim3 wherein the motor is received in a recess in the scroll casing.
 8. Amethod of personal cooling employing a personal cooling apparatusincluding a substantially tubular container having inner and outer ends,the container being made of thermally insulating material or beingthermally insulated, a scroll casing with an axial inlet incommunication with the inner end of the container; a centrifugal fanpositioned within the scroll casing, the scroll casing defining adischarge passage with a cross-sectional area that increases toward anoutlet at an end thereof wherein axially opposing faces of the dischargepassage are divergent, and the cross section of the discharge passageadjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in the axialdirection, the method comprising: placing a metallic can within thecontainer, wherein the can is sealed and holds a beverage chilled belowambient temperature or frozen; allowing air cooled by contact with thecan to fall into the scroll casing; actuating the fan to extract coldair from within the container and impel an outflow of cold air from thescroll casing, and directing the air outflow from a outlet at an end ofthe scroll casing for personal cooling.
 9. The method of claim 8 whereinthe air flow from the can is drawn through a substantially annularchannel between the metallic can and the tubular container.
 10. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the can protrudes from the upper end and theair flow into the container is funneled through the upper end whichtapers inwardly from its rim.
 11. A personal air conditioning apparatuscomprising: a container holding a coolant member and admitting incomingair for cooling, the container having a central axis with axiallyopposing outer and inner ends, the outer end being open for passage ofthe coolant member and the inner end being open for the passage of air;a centrifugal fan having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bladesfor generating an air flow; a motor drivingly connected to the fan, acommon axis of rotation of the motor and the fan being substantiallycoaxial with the central axis; a scroll casing, the fan being positionedwithin the scroll casing, the scroll casing defining a discharge passagewith a cross-sectional area that increases toward an outlet at an endthe scroll casing, wherein axially opposing faces of the dischargepassage are divergent, and the cross-sectional area of the dischargepassage adjacent the outlet has a shape elongated substantially in anaxial direction; an inlet in the scroll casing in communication with theinner end of an container; substantially radially aligned vanes locatedin the inlet for supporting an end of the coolant member and projectinginto an axial recess in the fan, wherein, the inner end of the containerlies above the scroll casing and a surface bounding a lower side of thedischarge passage is inclined upwardly from the inlet toward the outlet,the discharge passage has a centriodal axis defined along a locus ofcentroid positions for a plurality of transverse discharge passagesections along a length of the discharge passage and the centroidal axisis inclined upwardly toward the outlet.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11further comprising: a base defining a liquid reservoir; a liquidatomizing device disposed in the discharge passage for dispensing liquiddroplets into air flow from the discharge passage; a liquid conduitextending from the liquid atomizing device to the reservoir; and achannel extending between the container and the reservoir for directingcondensation formed on the coolant member to the reservoir.